Prior to joining ISW, Mr. Harmer served for twenty years as a career officer in the U.S. Navy. Among his various postings, he served as the Deputy Director of Future Operations at the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain from February 2008 to May 2009.

Mr. Harmer graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.A. in History. He received an M.A. in International Relations from Troy University, an M.A. in International Policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and has also studied at the U.S. Naval War College.

The U.S. can and should act decisively in Syria in order to protect its national security interests and those of its allies. The current exodus of refugees from Syria presents significant economic and security challenges to America’s allies in Europe and the Middle East, and directly benefits the Syrian Assad regime, Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), and the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS). Continued U.S. inaction in the face of these strategic challenges will only exacerbate the security situation and empower America’s enemies and strategic competitors. The White House announced on October 30 small adjustments to U.S. implementation, such as adding less than fifty special operations forces to train and assist the Kurdish-Arab Force in northern Syria. These changes are insufficient to meet the strategic challenges. Continued U.S. inaction and half-measures will only exacerbate the security situation and empower America’s enemies and strategic competitors.